If you're a regular reader of my blog, I'm sure you've realized that my family LOVES traditions! And this past week, we...or rather KADEN....was able to be part of one of my mom's favorite traditions. Whenever her grandkids start Kindergarten, she takes them out on a "backpack date" to buy a brand new backpack for school and then out to lunch. Kaden was able to go on his backpack date this week and had SO MUCH FUN. I have to admit....I have this weird thing with "character stuff." You know...shoes, clothes, backpacks, etc. with characters like Spiderman, Batman, etc. etc. etc. on them. I just don't care for them. I really feel that when we go to school, we should look our best.....dressed nice (not necessarily dressed UP....but dressed NICE)...hair done.....spray of cologne....etc. LOL! (That last one makes people laugh, but I've actually bit dabbing a titch of cologne on Kaden since he was a toddler. Now it's just part of the routine!) Anyway.....therefore, I've always just thought those types of clothes are a little cheesy and not appropriate for school. SO....having said that, you can imagine that I was a little worried to let Kaden go with his Oma without me there to coach him on what backpack to get....to stear him away from the corny plastic-y ones.
And then......I realized something. That is really dumb. Good grief. Does it really matter? If what he wants more than anything is the cheesy character backpack, then he should have it. I don't want him to come to me someday and say, "Ya know Mama...you were a really great mom, but my childhood really would have been perfect if you had let me have that Spiderman backpack." LOL! I know that's ridiculous....but in a way, you never really know how much that will mean..and for how long. He's only a little kid ONCE!! And seriously...is it really that bad for a LITTLE KID to walk around with a superhero backpack? I really should be SUPPORTING it. Spiderman and all of the other superheroes are good people that fly around SAVING PEOPLE and DOING GOOD all the time. Heck...what mother WOULDN'T want that type of role model on her child's backpack?! LOL! I have issues. LOL! Anyway...I'm over it and I decided to let go and let Kaden pick the backpack that he wanted most....the one he couldn't live without. And he actually surprised BOTH me and my mom. Kaden
ALWAYS talks about Spiderman...so we were SURE he would pick a Spiderman one. Nope. He first really loved a camouflage one (which, by the way, would have been MY choice for him....for the record. LOL!) and had it on his back and was ready to head out when he passed another one and stopped. My mom said he pointed right at it and said, "Nope...THAT'S IT! That's the one." My mom was surprised to see that he was pointing at a Batman backpack....when Kaden has never even really MENTIONED Batman before. She kept saying, "Are you sure?" He would NOT be swayed...THAT was the backpack. And ya know what? It's seriously freakin' cool! It really is a very cool backpack with the canvas backpack material in some areas and then this cool black textured leather everywhere else. And even that dorky bat is really cool. LOL! But what made it even MORE AWESOME was just seeing the look on Kaden's face when he was wearing it. THIS was the best backpack ever according to Kaden. What a silly mom I am to have almost robbed him of that. Oh well....live and learn, right? So am I going to run out and buy him clothes to match? Mmm..probably not. But I might think twice about it now! ;-)
Oma really spoiled Kaden and he was in HEAVEN! Because they got a pretty good deal on the backpack, my mom let him choose a toy. Kaden chose Power Rangers gloves and a spy phone thingey. LOL! He has been wearing those gloves ALL WEEK!!!! (Oops..the thumb of one of the gloves is right over his eye. LOL! Oh well.) She also bought him a pencil case, pencils to share with his friends, a Spiderman wallet....with MONEY in it...and more. They even picked out a wallet and a fun ice cream cone toy for little Seneca. They had so much fun. And after the store, they ate lunch and played at Carl's Junior. On the way home, Kaden sat in the back holding all of his fun new prizes. My mom said that it was quiet for a little bit and then suddenly he let out a loud sigh. My mom said, "Are you tired now Kaden?" And Kaden answered, "No. That's just the smile sound." LOL! How cute is that?! Oh my gosh. He was seriously SUCH a happy little kid. I can totally see him sitting in the back of the car SMILING at all of his stuff when he said that. Oh yay. I'm so glad he had so much fun and has a cool backpack that he loves so much. THANK YOU MOM, for taking Kaden out for such a fun day.
A few more little funny things about Kaden that I have to share....seriously, he is such a priceless little kid. While I had my white backdrop out and was taking pics of my visiting teaching "happy things" that I posted last night, Kaden asked if I would take a picture of his Power Ranger stuff. I totally thought he just meant for me to take a picture of HIM with his things. No...he walked over to my backdrop and seriously ARRANGED his toys and then stood back for me to take pictures of them. LOL!!!! So cute. So...TA DA...here is the picture of Kaden's toys....
OK...one last thing before I take off. This one makes me giggle each time I have told anyone this week. LOL! It's seriously so funny - probably MORE funny had you actually BEEN THERE. LOL! Anyway....Sundays are usually kind of a nightmare for us. I won't beat around the bush...they are really, really hard. Seneca just does NOT sit still and it's just...well....stressful. Anyway...for some reason, this past Sunday, BOTH of our kids were AWESOME! They really were GREAT. No idea why. Anyway....during the Sacrament, Kaden did get a little antsy and was talking quite a bit. I had him on my lap and I hugged him close to me and said, "Kaden bud, during the Sacrament, it's time for us to be reverent and think about Jesus." He sat there with his arms folded for a sec and then leaned right up to my ear and whispered, "But Mama....I would rather think about sharks." ROFL! I seriously had the hardest time not laughing. I'm pretty sure that even Jesus was smiling at that comment. So cute. Anyway...so still trying to be a good mom and keep him focused, I whispered in his ear that Jesus made the sharks and we should be grateful to Him for making all of our favorite animals. LOL! It was seriously so funny...and so sweet. What a character. I seriously love my little bud!
Cool backpack. I love the tradition of a backpack date. LOOOOVE the shark comment. Kids are so honest. I would have had a hard time holding back the laughter.
Michelle
Posted by: Michelle S | July 26, 2007 at 10:48 PM
That is a ROCKIN backpack. The kid has taste, must get it from his Mother.
Cute stories, I especially loved the last one and what a good come back mom!!! Kids say the cutest things and I wish we could remember each and every one of them.
Posted by: Marcy | July 26, 2007 at 11:56 PM
LOL! So dang cute!! I love the backpack and his sharks during the Sacrament. Too cute!! Savanna had a Belle backpack for kindergarten and 1st grade, but it died during 1st grade, so for 2nd grade she chose a new one. Surprisingly, she chose a non-character one that rolls. She LOVES it! Sydney chose a Tinkerbell one. I am seriously so sad for the day when my kids stop wanting the character things!! That means they're "too grown up" for that and, according to ME, there's no such thing!! Which is why I'm still a Disney freak! LOL Anyway, that is definitely an awesome backpack for a character one!! Good luck to Kaden in kindergarten. I STILL cannot believe he's going!! I totally forgot he's only a year younger than Syd! Crazy!
Oh, and you need to remind me what material you used for your backdrop and how much! LOL Can you believe I STILL haven't gotten any?? LOL I PROMISE I'm going to write it down and put it somewhere special this time!! LOL
Posted by: Nikki Peck | July 27, 2007 at 12:13 AM
Three cheers for you Heather! Good job on letting go about the character thing! I am like you. I am not crazy about them either but it's what is important to them in their little world. I grew up in a bedroom that my Mom decorated in blue and looked like a furniture showroom. We weren't allowed to have anything personal on the walls or the surfaces. It was all kept in drawers or in the closet. Looking back the room WAS beautiful...my Mom is a great decorater. However, I hated that room! To this day I can't stand blue in a bedroom!
In the last year, we got new bedroom furniture for our room and I wanted to move our older set to my 5 year old daughter's room. She protested and said she loved her furniture (which is a smaller set) and didn't want the other set as much as I tried to coax her into it. Needless to say my childhood bedroom memories flooded back and I ended up letting her keep her set.
You did a good thing! Way to go Mom!
Posted by: Cindi | July 27, 2007 at 04:56 AM
You gotta love your Mom and her wisdom in starting such amazing traditions. What a great example in every way!!
And...how incredible is Kaden's little mind?!
You gotta love that too!!
Have a Happy Day!
Posted by: Tracy | July 27, 2007 at 07:07 AM
I despise character clothing and backpacks too. Cameron had a spiderman backpack for Kindergarten, but last year I bought a great lands end one and he still uses it. I will not buy character shoes...although, he does have some spidey sandals. I didn't want to buy them though. Cute pictures.
Posted by: Stacy B | July 27, 2007 at 08:14 AM
Sharks! I love it!
Posted by: Zach J. | July 27, 2007 at 08:15 AM
Cool backpack! Yeah, I actually get such a kick out of seeing the kids going back to school on the first day with all their new stuff.... makes me wish we had that back in the 60's....
Posted by: Maureen | July 27, 2007 at 08:36 AM
I am so totally going to do this. What a fun and fabulous idea. I love Grandmas that do special things like that. I remember my one on one dates with my Grandparents too!
Posted by: Marie | July 27, 2007 at 09:00 AM
I am right ther with you with the character things. The only time my kids get stuff wtih their favorite character on it is when they're witht their Nanny. The older my oldest one gets (she'll be 7 next month)I find myself letting go a little bit. But...boy is it hard! LOL!
Posted by: Shannon Bolt | July 27, 2007 at 09:16 AM
He did a great job picking his backpack - and I think I've found a new family tradition to start! Oh- and by the way WHERE can I sign up to be visit taught by YOU?!?!?! I never SEE my visiting teachers. You know - That won't stop me from being the kind of VT I should be. Do you mind if I lift some of your sweet gift ideas for my sisters??
Posted by: Bobbi-Jo | July 27, 2007 at 10:01 AM
Kaden is So cute, and what a wonderful grandma he has!
Posted by: Linda U | July 27, 2007 at 11:38 AM
ROTFL! Sharks!! I love it!
Can you please be my visiting teacher?
Posted by: JustRandi | July 27, 2007 at 11:45 AM
What a cool backpack! Love the "shark" conversation!! Have a great weekend!
Posted by: Stevie K | July 27, 2007 at 07:31 PM
I'm glad you are letting go a little bit on the charachter thing. They are only kids once. I even tried to make sure mine were dressed to the "T's" for school but eventually I had to let their own little personalities shine through and let them have their agency. Some battles are just not worth fighting and they gotta win sometimes! LOL. Love the backpack date idea!!! Your mom is a good grandma!
Posted by: Lilian | July 28, 2007 at 09:10 AM
Love the traditions your family has. That is what makes life so great. Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Liz | July 28, 2007 at 05:25 PM
i love the "shark" comment. so cute! so honest. that sounds like a fun tradition. you have a really neat family!
Posted by: heidi larsen | July 29, 2007 at 10:08 AM
I think are sons are soul mates! My son Jack has to have everything in character. Batman, Spiderman, Superman, etc...
Good luck with school Kaden!
Great blog!
Posted by: Mimi Leinbach | July 29, 2007 at 07:46 PM
Heather,
I got an email from your sister Kim, and she mentioned Chas was in the hospital. I am glad that everything went well with the surgery and I just wanted you to know, that I am thinking and praying for your litle family.
Love in the gospel,
Michele Quick
Posted by: Michele in AZ | July 30, 2007 at 08:38 AM
I am so with you on the "Character Wear". I totally dig it for stupid stuff like pajamas or underpants, but backpacks and clothes, I AGREE, never on my kids. However, maybe it's a turning 5 thing, I am caving this year for Paige's backpack...it has to be Princesses. She wasn't budging on this one, even though I loved the pink camoflauge.
Kaden's sharks comments make me laugh hard. Especially since yesterday during the entire Sacrament prayer, Claire yelled, "Daddy, fold your arms. Daddy close your eyes!" I could see bodies all around us bouncing trying to hold back their laughter.
Hope Chas is doing better. I'll check on you soon!
Posted by: Brooke Vincent | July 30, 2007 at 03:11 PM
Heather, You and your family are in our prayers. I hope Chas gets well soon.
Posted by: jessica | July 31, 2007 at 07:34 PM
I love that comment by Kaden during sacrament. That's hysterical! Sounds a lot like MY 7 year old.
I have been lurking for months now because I love your design ideas and I want to spend my husband entire paycheck on your stuff. ( I should clarify. I can't actually do that but I do want to.) Do you ship internationally to Canada?
Posted by: Jen the Mom | July 31, 2007 at 09:08 PM
That is really a wonderful tradition. You have a wonderful family. I'm still getting my order together for the quote blocks. Is there a due date so to speak?
Posted by: Laurie | August 01, 2007 at 02:35 AM
Great backpack and I love that tradition. I think it was pretty nice of you to let him have the character one, but I am a fan of the boring Land's End monogrammed ones, but can see how batman is more fun ; ) I love the cologne thing, too- hilarious!
xoxo
Katie
Posted by: Katie | August 01, 2007 at 12:51 PM
Hi Heather,
My mom told me that your husband was in the hospital. Hope everything is ok. Our prayers are with you guys!!
Posted by: Shannon Bolt | August 02, 2007 at 01:55 PM